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HB751 • 2026

RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE.

RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE.

Budget
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
PERRUSO, AMATO, BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, KAPELA, LOWEN, MARTEN, PIERICK, POEPOE, QUINLAN, SOUZA, TAM, TODD
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on funding amounts or penalties for non-compliance.

Rules to Reduce Organic Waste

This bill sets goals for reducing solid waste and requires counties to create plans that divert organic waste according to state benchmarks.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets statewide goals to reduce the amount of trash before it goes to a landfill or incinerator.
  • Requires each county to include in their next plan how they will meet these goals by diverting organic waste, like food scraps and yard waste.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Counties in Hawaii
  • Businesses that generate a lot of organic waste, such as restaurants and grocery stores

Terms To Know

Organic Waste
Material from plants or animals that can break down naturally, like food scraps or yard trimmings.
Benchmarks
Specific goals set by the state for reducing waste and increasing recycling of organic materials.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided to counties.
  • It is unclear what penalties, if any, there are for not meeting these benchmarks.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment sets new statewide goals to reduce solid waste by requiring certain entities to divert organic waste to approved facilities starting from January 1, 2027.

  • Establishes a goal for the state to reduce solid waste before disposal and requires counties to include plans in their next integrated solid waste management plan revisions to divert specific types of organic waste based on set benchmarks.
  • Defines new terms such as 'biodegradable,' 'compostable,' and 'organic waste' to clarify what materials are covered by these goals.
  • Amends existing sections to add requirements for counties to assess their recycling and bioconversion efforts, including the diversion of all organic waste produced within the county.
  • The exact financial appropriation details are not provided in the amendment text.
  • Some parts of the amendment refer to future dates (e.g., July 1, 3000) which seem incorrect and may need clarification or correction.
HD2

3

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: The amendment sets new statewide goals for reducing solid waste by requiring counties to create plans that divert specific types of organic waste from landfills and other disposal methods.

  • Establishes benchmarks for different categories of businesses and entities to start diverting their organic waste to approved facilities starting in 2027, with more stringent requirements phased in through 2040.
  • Defines new terms such as 'biodegradable,' 'compostable,' and 'organic waste' to clarify what materials are covered by the benchmarks.
  • Updates existing goals for solid waste reduction from 1995 and 2000 targets to more ambitious targets of 40% by 2027 and 70% by 2035, focusing on source reduction, recycling, and bioconversion.
  • Requires counties to include plans in their next integrated solid waste management revisions that address the diversion of organic waste as per new state benchmarks.
  • The exact financial appropriation for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 is not specified.
  • The effective date of July 1, 3000, seems incorrect or placeholder text.
SD1

5

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: The amendment establishes statewide goals for reducing solid waste by requiring specific entities to divert organic waste to approved facilities and sets benchmarks for different types of waste generators.

  • Sets new state goals to reduce the solid waste stream by 40% by January 1, 2027, and 70% by January 1, 2035.
  • Requires counties to include plans in their next integrated solid waste management plan revisions for diverting organic waste from landfills and co-generation plants.
  • Defines new terms such as 'biodegradable,' 'compostable,' and 'organic waste' to clarify what materials are covered by the goals.
  • The exact details of how counties will implement these plans, including specific methods for diversion and compliance measures, are not fully detailed in this amendment.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-03-18 S

    Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

  3. 2025-03-18 S

    Reported from AEN/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1130) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

  4. 2025-03-11 S

    The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite, Fevella.

  5. 2025-03-11 S

    The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

  6. 2025-03-07 S

    The committee(s) on AEN/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-11-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

  7. 2025-03-06 S

    Referred to AEN/EIG, WAM.

  8. 2025-03-06 S

    Passed First Reading.

  9. 2025-03-06 S

    Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 279).

  10. 2025-03-04 H

    Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Shimizu voting no (5) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

  11. 2025-02-28 H

    Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.

  12. 2025-02-28 H

    Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1014) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.

  13. 2025-02-26 H

    The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

  14. 2025-02-26 H

    Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-26-25 11:00AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  15. 2025-02-25 H

    The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-26-25.

  16. 2025-02-21 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 02-25-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  17. 2025-02-13 H

    Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).

  18. 2025-02-13 H

    Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 604) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  19. 2025-02-06 H

    The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

  20. 2025-01-29 H

    Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Thursday, 02-06-25 9:00AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  21. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to EEP, FIN, referral sheet 2

  22. 2025-01-21 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  23. 2025-01-17 H

    Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO ORGANIC WASTE.
Solid Waste Reduction; Organic Waste Diversion; Benchmarks; Counties; Solid Waste Management Plans; Appropriations ($)
Establishes statewide goals for solid waste reduction and organic waste diversion. Requires each county to incorporate into its next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to divert certain organic waste generated within the county in alignment with established state benchmarks. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB751

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

751

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to organic waste
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that the State did not
reach mandates established in 1991 to reduce the solid waste stream by fifty
per cent by 2000.
�
The legislature also
finds that the Aloha+ Challenge established the goal to reduce by seventy per
cent the solid waste stream prior to disposal by 2030 through source reduction,
recycling, bioconversion, and landfill diversion methods for organic waste.

����
To meet United Nations Sustainable
Development and Aloha+ Challenge goals related to waste reduction, there is a
need to embed in statute existing goals and further benchmarks to track and
require progress toward reducing solid waste production and increasing organic
waste diversion.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�342G-
�
Benchmarks.
�
It is the goal of the State to reduce the solid waste stream prior to
disposal by requiring organic waste generators to divert material to any
certified facility within twenty miles by:

����
(1)
�
January 1, 2026:
�
(Tier 1) All wholesale food vendors, food
service providers, food distributors, grocery stores greater than ten thousand
square feet, supermarkets, hotels, and any entity generating one ton per week
or one hundred four tons per year or more;

����
(2)
�
January 1,
2030:
�
(Tier 2) All restaurants, local
education agencies, large venues and event spaces, state agencies, health
facilities, and any entity generating one-half ton per week or twenty-six tons
per year or more;

����
(3)
�
January 1,
2034:
�
Any multifamily complexes and any
entity generating one-third ton per week or eighteen tons per year or more; and

����
(4)
�
January 1,
2035:
�
Organic wastes shall be banned
from landfills and co-generation plants, including that produced by single
family residences.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
Section 342G-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read
as follows:

����
"
"Biodegradable"
means capable of being broken down or decomposed into carbon dioxide, methane,
or simpler organic compounds by bacteria or other living organisms.

����
"Organic waste" means
any material that is compostable or biodegradable and is derived from either a
plant or an animal.
�
"Organic
waste" includes green waste, food waste, food-soiled paper that is
acceptable for food storage, and untreated and unpainted wood waste.
"

����
SECTION
4
.
�
Section 342G-3,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsections (a)
and (b) to read as follows:

����
"
[
[
]�342G-3[
]
]
�

Goals.
�
(a)
�
It is the goal of the State to reduce the
solid waste stream prior to disposal by:

����
(1)
�
[
Twenty-five
]

Forty
per cent by January 1, [
1995;
]
2026;
and

����
(2)
�
[
Fifty
]
Seventy

per cent by January 1, [
2000;
]
2030,

through source reduction, recycling,
organic
waste landfill diversion,
and bioconversion.
�
Where feasible, the office shall establish
other state goals for specific commodities, recognizing market considerations.

����
(b)
�

It is the goal of the State to reduce [
by not less than twenty-five
per cent the amount of office paper generated by all state and county agencies
by January 1, 1995, through source reduction.
�

The base year for calculating progress toward this goal shall be total
office paper consumption by state and county agencies in 1990.
]
organic
waste stream disposal via incineration, waste-to-energy, or landfill by:

����
(1)
�
Forty per cent
by January 1, 2026;

����
(2)
�
Seventy per
cent by January 1, 2030; and

����
(3)
�
One hundred per
cent by January 1, 2035.
"

����
SECTION
5
.
�
Section
342G-26, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read
as follows:

����
"(c)
�
The recycling [
and
]
,

bioconversion
, and organic waste diversion
component shall identify and
assess:

����
(1)
�
The level of waste
reduction the county is achieving through existing recycling and bioconversion
efforts;

����
(2)
�
The type and
amount of solid waste that it is technically and economically feasible to
recycle or alter through bioconversion; [
and
]

����
(3)
�
Methods to
increase and improve the recycling and bioconversion efforts, including
opportunities for backyard composting[
.
]
; and

����
(4)
�
Diversion of
all organic waste produced within the county by organic waste generators
subject to the benchmarks established in section 342G- .

����
For recycling, the counties shall
assess the type and amount of solid waste that it is technically feasible to
recycle, giving consideration at a minimum to clear glass, colored glass,
aluminum, steel and bimetallic cans, high-grade office paper, newsprint, mixed
paper, corrugated paper, HDPE, PET, and green waste.

����
For bioconversion, the counties
shall assess the type and amount of solid waste that it is technically feasible
to alter through bioconversion, giving consideration at a minimum to green
waste, wood waste, animal manure, sewage sludge, and food wastes."

����
SECTION 6.
�
Each county shall incorporate the new
requirement established by section 4 of this Act into its next integrated solid
waste management plan revision for submission to the office of solid waste
management pursuant to section 342G-24, Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
SECTION 7.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department
of health to reimburse the counties for incorporation of the new requirements
under this Act into their respective integrated solid waste management plan
revisions as required by this Act.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the
purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 8.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 9.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Solid
Waste Reduction; Organic Waste Diversion; Benchmarks; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
statewide goals for solid waste reduction and organic waste diversion.
�
Requires each county to incorporate into its
next integrated solid waste management plan revision a plan to divert certain
organic waste generated within the county in alignment with established state
benchmarks.
�
Appropriates funds.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.